Adjustable tray for worktable

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally and pivotally adjustable tray for a worktable which is mounted on the lower end of a traversing bar extending transversely across the table; the traversing bar is at both ends provided with antifriction rolling means and rail means are provided along the lower edge of the worktable to enable the traversing bar which supports the adjustable tray to be longitudinally moved along the table; the worktable may be inclined relative to a horizontal ground surface as is frequently the case in drafting tables and similar worktable arrangements and the tray is pivoted on a bracket extending upwardly from the lower end of the longitudinally movable traversing bar so that the tray may be adjusted in a horizontal position relative to the inclined position of the worktable.

United States Patent Miller, Jr. Feb. 22, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE TRAY FOR WORKTABLE 3,086,115 4/1963 Southerland 108/8 [72] Inventor: Russell W. Miller, Jr., 7l2l Lindsdale Street, Detroit, Mich. 48204 5? l ssistam Examiner-Glenn O. Finch [22] Filed: July 30, 1970 Att0rney-Cullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor A longitudinally and pivotally adjustable tray for a worktable [22] 8|. ..l08/6:\24l7lf/g/91.; which is mounted on the lower and of a traversing bar extend E s i l1 10 49 102 ing transversely across the table; the traversing bar is at both 0 1/45 ends provided with antifriction rolling means and rail means are provided along the lower edge of the worktable to enable the traversing bar which supports the adjustable tray to be lon- [56] References cued gitudinally moved along the table; the worktable may be UNn-ED STATES PATENTS inclined relative to a horizontal ground surface as is frequently the case in drafting tables and similar worktable arrangements l Van Horn X and the tray is pivoted on a bracket extending upwardly from 2,194,839 3/1940 F P "108/5 the lower end of the longitudinally movable traversing bar so 2965333 12/ 1960 Smclamu 1/691 X that the tray may be adjusted in a horizontal position relative 2 18 301w: ..21 l/ to the inclined position of the worktable.

c an e 2,846,808 8/1958 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures lvester 108/9 PATENTEBFEB22|912 3, 5 I

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mvemon RUSSELL w. MILLER, JR.

BYQALQM fi fi m ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE TRAY FOR-WORKTABLE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Worktables, such as drafting boards and the like, usually provide a longitudinal rectangular work surface, which'conveniently may be adjustable in angular positions relative to the horizontal ground surface on which the work table is supported. This arrangement is usually provided to enable the user of the table to work in a more relaxed position without having to extremely bend over the table surface of the table as would be the case if the table top would be in a flat horizontal plane.

This arrangement is extremely important in the construction of work tables for artists, such as draftsmemfor instance.

In work or drafting tables of this kind the surface of'the table is intended'to be conveniently inclined towards the user of the table so as to enable the user of the table to assume a relaxed body position to reduce or eliminate painful body stresses otherwise encountered if the table top would be fixed in a flat horizontal position.

This arrangement, however, due to the inclined position of the table top made it difficult or impossible herebefore to support a plurality of tools to be used in any particular instance by the user of the table, such as brushes, pencils, pens, scales, protractors, etc. Evidently, if the tools are put on the inclined top surface of the table they would slide downoff the table towards the ground.

Although most of these types of work tables are provided with a ledge along the longitudinal lower edge of the table, nearest to the user of the table, which is adapted to retain a small number of tools and instruments used by the user of the table, this ledge along the lower edge of the inclined top of the table is in most instances not sufficient to retain a variety of other tools or implements intended to be used by the user of the-table. Although theledge on the lower edge ofthe table may be sufficient to retain pens and pencils and other longitudinal instruments, the ledge is not sufiicient to retain such items as fluid containers, or the like, which must be supported in an upright position to prevent the fluid from beingspilled. Furthermore, these items, such as containers and the like, must be supported in a conveniently reachable position and such that they can easily be moved along the work table without spilling the contents.

By means of the present invention, an improved and convenient tray means is provided, which is adapted for sliding movement along the worktable, and which is pivoted to an upright bracket so as to enable maintenance of the tray in the horizontal position regardless of the inclined position of the work table. 1

This is accomplished by the provision of a longitudinal traversing bar extending across the table from the lower edge to the top edge which is provided at both ends with antifriction rolling means adapted to engage the table at its upper edge and to engagelongitudinal slide means along the lower edge of the table so as to enable the traversing bar to be moved transversely across the table from the left to the right or vice versa.

An upright bracket support is provided at thelower end of the traversing bar, or relatively near to it, which pivotally supports the article supporting tray of the present invention. The article supporting tray of the present invention is arranged such, as to be pivotally adjustable to maintain the tray in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, position relative to the inclined position of the work table. To accommodate for extreme inclinations of the work table, the traversing bar is recessed at one location tov permit the extension of the tray thereinto or, vice versa, the edge of the tray nearest to the bar may be recessed, to permit the tray to extend past the bar in an extremely inclined position of the worktable to insure horizontal positioning of the tray relative to the inclined surface of the work table.

Further objects and distinct advantages of the present invention will become evident by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the appended drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the, present adjustable tray for an inclined worktable;

FIG. Zis-atransverse cross section through the worktable shown in FIG. 1. along line 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an endview of the lower roller means of the present adjustable tray support;

FIG. 4 is. an end view of the upper roller means of the present adjustable tray support; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section through the lower roller means along line 5-5v thereof.

DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continuing reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a worktable generally indicated at 10, which may be a drafting table fora'draftsman, an artist or the like. The work table 10 has a table top 12 which usually is pivotally supported to permit the table top 12 to be adjusted from the normal position at an angular degree convenient to the user of the table.

The lower, or near, edge of the table top 12 is provided with slide means 15 comprised of a rail-type guide which is L- shaped in cross section toprovide an upstanding flange 16 extending along the lower edge from end to end which merges into a flat rail-type guideway 18 likewise extending along the lower edge of the tabletop 12 from end to end.

As seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion of bar 22 is adapted to roll over the top of the table. The lower guideway 15 is adapted to movably. support the lower end of traversing bar assembly 20. Said traversing bar assembly primarily consists of a longitudinal strut member 22 of a length extending from the upper edge of the table top 12 to. the lower edge.

As shown more in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, the traversing bar assembly 20 is attached at the upper end to a carriage 24 which is a generally flat member extending in a direction normal to thelongitudinal direction of the strut member 22. The

underside of the carriage 24 supports a pair of rollers 26, at

opposite ends of the carriage, rotatably attached thereto by means of brackets 28 disposed on opposite sides of the strut member 22. The rollers 26 are adapted for rolling engagement along the top surface of said table.

The lower or nearer end of the strut member 22 of the traversing bar assembly 20 is attached to, or formed integral with, a carriage 30, shown in detail in FIG. 3. The carriage 30, at the lower end of the strut member 22, is positioned and constructed such as to support a first pair of rollers 32 and 34, respectively, along the lower edge of the carriage which faces the table top for sliding rolling engagement of the rollers 34, 32 along the flat surface 18 of the lower guideway 15. The carriage 30 has an outwardly facing lateral surface 36 to which are attached, at opposite ends of the carriage, bracket means 38 and 40, respectively, which are adapted to rotatably support a second pair of rollers 42 and 44, which are rotatable about axes normal to the axes of the first pair of rollers 32 and 34. Thus, the pair of rollers 42 and 44, at the lower end of the traversing bar assembly 20, are adapted for rolling engagement against the upstanding flange 16 of the L-shaped lower guideway 15.

Thus, the tranversing bar assembly 20 is longitudinally movably supported along the upper and lower ends of the table top 12 for adjustable rolling movement therealong from the left to the right, or vice versa.

At the lower end of the traversing bar assembly 20, the strut member 22 is provided with an upright bracket 46 adjacent the lower carriage 30. The upright bracket 46 is adapted to pivotally supportan article supporting tray assembly 48.

The tray assembly 48 is composed substantially of a flat plate 50 which may be rectangular (as shown) or have any other planar shape. To the underside of the flat plate 50, of the tray assembly 48, is attached a pair of brackets 52 and 54, respectively, which extend downwardly from the plate 50 and which are adapted to straddle the upright bracket 46 on the strut member 22. The pair of brackets 52 and 54 are secured to the upright bracket 46 by means of a pin 56 having a threaded end portion to receive a locknut 58. Thus, the tray assembly 48 is pivotally adjustable around the upright bracket 46 on the strut member 22 and can be locked at the desired adjusted position by tightening the locknut 58,

As further seen the tray assembly 48 is provided with an upstanding rim portion or flange 60, extending circumferentially around the outer edge of the flat plate 50. Conveniently, the circumferential rim or flange 60 is provided with a plurality of notches 62 to provide a convenient separating support for a plurality of longitudinal tools or implements, such as pencils, pens, brushes or the like, used by the user of the table.

As most clearly seen in FIG. 2, the strut member 22, of the traversing bar assembly 20, is providedwith a recess 64 upwardly spaced a short distance from the upright bracket 46 which supports the tray assembly 48. As seen in FIG. 1 and 2, the recess 64 in the strut member 22 is adapted to provide a clearance for the tray assembly 48 at an extreme inclined position of the table top 12 to assure positioning of the tray assembly 48 in a horizontal position relative to the inclined table top 12 to permit the safe support of fluid containers thereon, such as paint or ink flasks or the like, as seen in FIG. 1.

Conversely, the flat plate 50 of the tray assembly .48 may be recessed inwardly from the edge nearest to the strut member 22 to enable the tray assembly 48 to clear the strut member 22 at extremely inclined positions of the table top 12.

From the foregoing description, and appended drawings, it is evident that the present invention provides a convenient longitudinally and horizontally adjustable article supporting tray assembly for a work table, particularly for use on an artists worktable, such as a drawing board.

The adjustable tray assembly of the present invention, permits longitudinal movement of the tray across the worktable into a convenient position for the user of the table, and independent horizontal adjustment of the tray, to retain the tray of the present invention in a horizontal position regardless of the angle of inclination of the table top of the work table to which the tray is attached. The tray, thus, provides a safe support for fluid containers, or the like, used by the user of the table.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with only one preferred embodiment, it will be obvious that various changes in detail and construction may be resorted to by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, without departing from the spirit and essential characteristic of the invention as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a drafting table, having a table top adapted to be adjustable in a vertical plane to present an inclined work surface, a tray assembly supported on the table top for adjustable rolling movement therealong in a horizontal direction comprising a traversing bar extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of said table top; a fixed bracket extending upwardly from the traversing bar; means pivotally securing an article supporting tray to said bracket for pivotal adjustment of said tray to maintain said tray in a substantially horizontal position relative to the inclined surface of said table top; said table top being provided with ledge means along its lower edge; a pair of antifriction carriage means provided at opposite ends of the traversing bar adapted to movably engage said table top adjacent its upper edge and to movably engage said ledge means at its lower end to permit movement of the traversing bar across said tabletop; said ledge means along the lower edge comprising a rail member having an Lshaped cross section defining a longitudinal flange extending upwardly from said lower edge to support and retain said traversing bar on said table top.

2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said antifriction carriage means of said traversing bar comprising, a first pair of rollers supported at the upper end of said traversing bar for rolling engagement along said table adjacent its upper edge; a second pair of rollers supported at the lower end of said traversing bar for rolling engagement along the flat side of said L-shaped rail member on said lower ed e, and a third pair of rollers supported at the lower end of sai traversing bar rotatable about axes intersecting the axes of said second pair of rollers at a right angle for rolling engagement against said longitudinal flange of said L-shaped rail member. 

1. In combination with a drafting table, having a table top adapted to be adjustable in a vertical plane to present an inclined work surface, a tray assembly supported on the table top for adjustable rolling movement therealong in a horizontal direction comprising a traversing bar extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of said table top; a fixed bracket extending upwardly from the traversing bar; means pivotally securing an article supporting tray to said bracket for pivotal adjustment of said tray to maintain said tray in a substantially horizontal position relative to the inclined surface of said table top; said table top being provided with ledge means along its lower edge; a pair of antifriction carriage means provided at opposite ends of the traversing bar adapted to movably engage said table top adjacent its upper edge and to movably engage said ledge means at its lower end to permit movement of the traversing bar across said table top; said ledge means along the lower edge comprising a rail member having an L-shaped cross section defining a longitudinal flange extending upwardly from said lower edge to support and retain said traversing bar on said table top.
 2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said antifriction carriage means of said traversing bar comprising, a first pair of rollers supported at the upper end of said traversing bar for rolling engagement along said table adjacent its upper edge; a second pair of rollers supported at the lower end of said traversing bar for rolling engagement along the flat side of said L-shaped rail member on said lower edge, and a third pair of rollers supported at the lower end of said traversing bar rotatable about axes intersecting the axes of said second pair of rollers at a right angle for rolling engagement against said longitudinal flange of said L-shaped rail member. 